State Farm Wins 2023 Research Park Softball League Championship

After a successful summer of softball games, State
Farm won the championship game against Natrion on
Monday, July 31, 2023. The game was tied 10–10 in
regulation, but after a Slugfest off a tee, State Farm
emerged victorious. Littelfuse finished in third place.

“One of the many things I look forward to each year
is our Summer Research Softball League. The
planning, time and dedication put into the league from
all who are involved is amazing.” – Kelly Buchanan-Ford, State Farm

Ford’s team’s goals for the summer league were for the interns to bond, have fun outside of the workplace and get to know other companies within the Research Park.

She said, “There is nothing better than seeing those relationships [being] built time and time again… because of the impact our softball league brings to our students and staff.”

The 2023 Research Park Softball League started on June 5 and featured 16 teams, playing every Monday night. John Deere Senior Software Engineer James Kabbes served as League Commissioner for the second year in a row.

Buchanan–Ford and State Farm Oversight Lead Heather Park and had a blast
with the interns at every game, including the championship.

“Being a part of the championship game was an amazing time for everyone. It was a really hard–played, intense at times, ball–hitting tiebreaker of a game. In the end though, it wasn’t about the win. It has always just been about the people we have met along the way.” – Kelly Buchanan-Ford, State Farm

Participants included teams from:

• AGCO
• Ameren
• Caterpillar
• Brunswick
• Cache Energy
• Country Financial
• Electric Powers Engineers
• John Deere
• Motorola
• MS Bioanalytical
• Natrion
• Rivian
• Kohler
• RIPE
• State Farm
• Synchrony